I live in Saudi Arabia. AMA!

[Shmithecat]

I still hear so many daft claims about certain aspects of living in KSA. Happy to confirm or deny what you've been told!

gesu
When you say rascim, do you mean against black people-against whom? (Sorry if daft question!)

Not just black people, no. Indian subcontinent, Filipinos too.

Oops

As you were.

£220k pa?

Omfg.

@Moussemoose ffs...we've got the point by now. The OP is not responsible for any human rights issues in KSA. Give is a bloody rest eh? You've made your point known - just watch yer halo doesn't slip and choke you.

Great post OP. Very interesting and informative.

Hi OP. Would you have moved to SA during apartheid if it provided the same benefit to your family? (This question is inspired by another AMA where the OP's parents chose to do that). Just wondering if there is a line, or anywhere you wouldn't live. Thanks.

Moussemousse I'm really struggling to see what you want from this thread frankly.
Do you want the OP to publicly declare that she's a reprehensible human being, responsible for all the wrongs of Saudi Arabia?
Or do you hope she'll be magically enlightened by your onslaught of questions and realize her morals are nowhere near as lofty as yours?

I'll be honest, whatever good points you were trying to make have been utterly lost in the finger pointing accusatory tone in which you address the OP. You're not the morality and ethics police so fuck off with your line of militant questioning.

All properties in Dubai had a 'dirty' kitchen - an outdoor kitchen where they bbq meat etc so it doesn't stink the house out... But why don't they just have overhead fans? Or is it because people eat outdoors so much, its closer to the terrace?

It’s way more complex than that and goes back to days of old when people cooked in the open and the actual house was meant to be fir the use of the family only. The dirty kitchen was the equivalent of ‘below stairs’.

Nowadays it can be down to the fact cooking smells can travel through the house via central air conditioning or ducted split conditioning but I suspect its also down to old customs and tradition.

Could people use overhead fans? Yes they could but air conditioning is better by far.

Moussemousse I'm really struggling to see what you want from this thread frankly.

I suspect he or she is nothing more than a heckler.

£220k pa?

Omfg

That’s the total package and more than likely not cash in the bank at the end of the month.

You’d be very surprised about what has to come out of it and the hidden local costs involved in living an expat life.

@Strokethefurrywall well bloody said! @Moussemoose appears to have fecked off, or was that the sound of her falling off her moral high horse I just heard?

LunaTrap
Hi OP. Would you have moved to SA during apartheid if it provided the same benefit to your family? (This question is inspired by another AMA where the OP's parents chose to do that). Just wondering if there is a line, or anywhere you wouldn't live. Thanks.

Good question! No, I wouldn't have.

HattieAndHerBoy
£220k pa?
Omfg
That’s the total package and more than likely not cash in the bank at the end of the month.
You’d be very surprised about what has to come out of it and the hidden local costs involved in living an expat life.

About 70% of that is cash in the bank. The rest is our accommodation+utilities, flights home, medical, vehicle fuel etc. DH is a director so it's not a standard expat package but it's not the biggest either.

Hattie/Stroke/Queen

🍻

Not a question but thinking about how cultures and societies develop and change, is it not usually because different cultures have come and influenced them? So in Britain we have very multicultural areas which are often the least racist places, whereas the often smaller areas least affected by immingration are often the most racist because of assumption. And one of the biggest forces for change is interracial relationships.
So although expats are in gated communities, is it not a good thing that a society has to accommodate and welcome people from more liberal places and cannot help but be influenced by it? And both societies learn more about each other rather than basing their information on theory, media representation and fear?
So I feel like I should ask something- are there interracial relationships?

You said you feel safe etc and in part that might be due to the harsh punishments for crimes but with the compound you have the guard towers etc so I wonder what would happen if you didn't have those guards? Do you think the safe feeling would go?

Also do you get gold super cheap? One of my great uncles lived there many many moons ago and I know they bought loads of 24k gold cheaply and have sold it over the years and gave it as presents etc seems like it was a good investment! Really interesting AMA.

0hCrepe
Not a question but thinking about how cultures and societies develop and change, is it not usually because different cultures have come and influenced them? So in Britain we have very multicultural areas which are often the least racist places, whereas the often smaller areas least affected by immingration are often the most racist because of assumption. And one of the biggest forces for change is interracial relationships.
So although expats are in gated communities, is it not a good thing that a society has to accommodate and welcome people from more liberal places and cannot help but be influenced by it? And both societies learn more about each other rather than basing their information on theory, media representation and fear?

Couldn't agree more

So I feel like I should ask something- are there interracial relationships?

Yes. I know a few very wealthy and influential Saudi families that have married outside of their own nation/continent etc.. Also, they've sent their children to universities all over the world, not just for the education - in the hope that they can come back to Saudi and share their experiences in other cultures, encourage new ideas. All whilst being respectful of their fundamental Islamic beliefs (99% of which are totally peaceful!!!) But we need to respect that. If we don't, nothing will be achieved. I'm a total non believer. But I do see how much their religion means to the average Saudi. If you disregard that, they'll turn away.

knowledgeofnone
You said you feel safe etc and in part that might be due to the harsh punishments for crimes but with the compound you have the guard towers etc so I wonder what would happen if you didn't have those guards? Do you think the safe feeling would go?

No. It's safe outside too. And reading in the news today about what happened in Worcester reinforces that feeling.

Also do you get gold super cheap? One of my great uncles lived there many many moons ago and I know they bought loads of 24k gold cheaply and have sold it over the years and gave it as presents etc seems like it was a good investment! Really interesting AMA.

I honestly don't know 🙈. I've not bought any jewellery here so never paid attention to the prices. Although a colleague of DHs had a ring made for his wife in Saudi that he said would've cost double in the UK so I guess it could be a bit of a money spinner.

What's the milk like there? And the teabags? can you make a nice brew ?

kernowsailor
What's the milk like there? And the teabags? can you make a nice brew ?
Love this. The milk is great! Fresh. There are dairys in Saudi . Full fat, skimmed, semi etc. Tea is ok. My favourite (Twinings Every Day) isn't available but Tetley and Yorkshire tea are so pretty reasonable

I've known men who worked in SA and they say the work was less intellectually challenging than in the west. Saudi's in charge coming in at 11 am and leaving before mid afternoon prayers (whatever role that is). Does your husband not find it dull? I know you say he's a "director" but what's his decision making powers like? Comparable to the west for similar grade or far below?

In my opinion if westerners with skills avoided places like SA, SA would likely have developed faster as they would have had to develop their own people. Or they would have fallen by the wayside completely due to their own inability to keep up. I'd have preferred the latter to be honest.

I'd also save all that cash if I were you because from what I know people in the west look down on 'directorships' like those of your husband and thus he may find it harder to move into other work. I certainly would be doubtful of his actual experience levels, certainly if moving into Directorship for level below when moving to SA. Sorry to put a downer on things. Not that you sound worried about a thing in life anyway 😉

So, why don’t the laws apply in your compound? Why is there no requirement to cover up? 1200 houses is like a large village - I just struggle with why those laws don’t apply but others (e.g. against stealing?) presumably do?

Why aren’t Saudi’s allowed to live in the compound? Do the same lack of laws apply in Saudi compounds?

Do you feel disempowered by your husband having to sign your exit visa? I can see you clearly trust him totally but I think that sort of thing would make me feel jolly uncomfortable.

I'm sorry if you find my concern for human rights boring, it must be so tedious when all you want is to find out about is the wildlife.

My point is living in a country like this supports the regime, living in any country supports the government. I just wondered if before taking the decision to move the the KSA you considered the moral implications.

A poster obviously feel me mentioning that the KSA publicly executes children and stones women and is in breach of the Geneva Convention makes me a heckler. Ok then I will continue to heckle for human rights.

It was hecklers who won universal suffrage, and helped abolish the death penalty in the U.K.

A general questions do you really think asking questions about human rights is tedious and boring and off topic?

Snuppeline
I've known men who worked in SA and they say the work was less intellectually challenging than in the west. Saudi's in charge coming in at 11 am and leaving before mid afternoon prayers (whatever role that is).

That does still happen. Part of the reason expats are so sought after in particular fields, they have a better work ethic.

Does your husband not find it dull? I know you say he's a "director" but what's his decision making powers like? Comparable to the west for similar grade or far below?

He's second in command for whole company. The sector he works in is incredibly demanding and stressful but he's in control of it.

In my opinion if westerners with skills avoided places like SA, SA would likely have developed faster as they would have had to develop their own people. Or they would have fallen by the wayside completely due to their own inability to keep up. I'd have preferred the latter to be honest.

Ok.

I'd also save all that cash if I were you because from what I know people in the west look down on 'directorships' like those of your husband and thus he may find it harder to move into other work. I certainly would be doubtful of his actual experience levels, certainly if moving into Directorship for level below when moving to SA. Sorry to put a downer on things. Not that you sound worried about a thing in life anyway

How bizarre. What kind of 'directorship' do you think he has!? My dh has been in his line of work for over 30 years and is already pretty successful. We are also western. English specifically and have worked in the UK most of our adult lives there (although dh has done two shorter stints in another European country and in the Far East), so we know what goes on in 'The West'. The company he currently works for is the largest company in it's field in Europe and globally known.... thanks for the concern but I think we'll be ok

Why would OP worry about human rights? She’s making dooooosh. 💃

Thanks for your answer OP. I'm curious about why South Africa during apartheid would be a step too far, but the brutality of Saudi Arabia isn't.